Pro-gun bills moving in AZ

Posted by David Hardy · 21 May 2008 11:33 AM

An email from AZ CDL is in extended remarks, below. The bills would allow carrying a firearm concealed in a motor vehicle without a permit (you can presently carry in the glove compartment or trunk that way, if holstered), bring the requirements for a CCW permit into line with the requirements for gun ownership, and clarify when a firearm may be displayed in self defense.

HB 2389, an AzCDL requested bill that clarifies that it is permissible to carry a weapon, without a CCW permit, visibly or concealed, anywhere within a means of transportation, excluding public transit, passed out of the Senate Third Read on Monday, May 19, 2008, by a 17-9 vote with 4 Senators not voting. AzCDL is working with the sponsor to get HB 2389 into a Conference Committee, where the differences between the original House version and the amended Senate version can be worked out, and the language from HB 2634 removed.

Meanwhile HB 2634, the AzCDL requested bill that clarifies that a person with an expunged or set-aside felony conviction, or one who has had their rights restored, may obtain a concealed weapons permit, is scheduled for debate in the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) on Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

HB 2629, an AzCDL requested bill that clarifies when a defensive display of a firearm is justified, has been scheduled for the House Final Read on Tuesday, May 20, 2008. HB 2629 passed the House Third Read by a 32-26 vote (1 Representative not voting) on March 19, 2008, and the Senate Third Read by a 19-7 vote (4 Senators not voting) on May 12, 2008. If HB 2629 passes the House Final Read, it will be sent to the Governor.

Please take the time to send a polite note to your Senator urging them to vote for the passage of HB 2634, and to your Representatives urging them to vote for the passage of HB 2629. You can find your legislators here: http://www.azleg.gov/alisStaticPages/HowToContactMember.asp .
Please be sure to include your name, address, and phone number in all correspondence.

We have more good news! SB 1070, an AzCDL requested bill that makes it easier for lawful gun owners who have satisfactorily completed training to obtain a permit, or renew an expired one, and SB 1106, Senator Chuck Gray's bill that provides for an optional lifetime CCW permit, both passed out of the House COW on Monday, May 19, 2008. During the House COW debate, SB 1070 was amended, at the request of AZ DPS and the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association (ASRPA), to restore the language in the current statute requiring CCW instructors to create a training organization, and to make other technical changes.

Stay tuned! Information on these and other bills can be found at the AzCDL website: http://www.azcdl.org/html/legislation.html

These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today!